Method and apparatus for providing self-sterilizing sanitary barrier

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a self-sterilizing sanitary barrier is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing defining an interior space configured to receive a mask sheet such that the mask sheet is movable from a first position covering a portion of a face of a user to a second position within the interior space of the housing. The apparatus also includes a light source mounted within the interior space and configured to emit radiation to sterilize the mask sheet in the second position. The method includes steps including donning the apparatus on the user and moving the mask from the first position to the second position. The method further includes emitting radiation from the light source within the housing to sterilize the mask sheet in the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space configured to receive a mask sheet such that the mask sheet is movable from a first position covering a portion of a face of a user to a second position within the interior space of the housing; and   a light source mounted within the interior space and configured to emit radiation to sterilize the mask sheet in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to receive the mask sheet such that the mask sheet takes an arcuate path within the interior space of the housing as the mask sheet is moved from the first position to the second position within the interior space. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is configured to receive the mask sheet such that the mask sheet takes a serpentine path comprising a plurality of turns within the interior space of the housing as the mask sheet is moved from the first position to the second position within the interior space. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart layers positioned within the interior space that define the arcuate path between the pair of spaced apart layers. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the spaced apart layers are made from material that is transmissible of the radiation emitted by the light source. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of spaced apart layers each have a serpentine shape such that the arcuate path between the pair of spaced apart layers is a serpentine path comprising a plurality of turns. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more rods mounted within the interior space such that the mask sheet is configured to take the arcuate path as the mask sheet moves over the one or more rods. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more rods are made from material that is transmissible of the radiation emitted by the light source. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more rods are a plurality of rods mounted within the interior space such that the mask sheet is configured to take a serpentine path comprising a plurality of turns based on the mask sheet moving over the plurality of rods. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein an inner rod is pivotally mounted within the interior space and the mask sheet is configured to wrap around an outer surface of the inner rod as the mask sheet is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the light source includes a plurality of light sources mounted within the interior space. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner rod rotatably mounted within the interior space;   a spring-loaded ratchet gear to rotatably mount the inner rod within the housing; and   a pawl configured to engage the ratchet gear when the mask is in the first position.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a switch on the housing and operatively coupled to the pawl such that engagement of the switch is configured to disengage the pawl from the ratchet gear to move the mask sheet from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet (UV) light source. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the UV light source is a UV light emitting diode (LED) panel arranged within the interior space such that UV light emitted from the UV LED panel is directed at the mask sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller communicatively coupled with the light source;   a sensor configured to detect that the mask sheet has moved from the first position to the second position, wherein the sensor is communicatively coupled with the controller and is configured to transmit a first signal to the controller upon detection of the mask sheet moving to the second position;   wherein upon receiving the first signal from the sensor the controller is configured to transmit a second signal to the light source to cause the light source to emit radiation to sterilize the mask sheet in the second position.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a slot through which the mask sheet is configured to pass through in moving from the first position to the second position and wherein the apparatus further includes a cover that is configured to move from a first position not covering the slot when the mask sheet is in the first position to a second position covering the slot when the mask sheet is in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . A cartridge to replace one or more components of the apparatus of  claim 1 , said replaceable cartridge comprising the mask sheet. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 positioning the apparatus of  claim 1  on the user;   doffing the mask sheet including moving the mask sheet from the first position covering the portion of the face of the user to the second position within the interior space of the housing; and   emitting radiation from the light source within the interior space to sterilize the mask sheet in the second position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising donning the mask sheet including moving the mask sheet from the second position within the housing to the first position such that the mask sheet covers the portion of the face of the user.